Portage County Breaks Ground on $160 Million Jail and Law Enforcement Center

The new $160 million Portage County Jail and Law Enforcement Center will hold 196 beds and provide new headquarters for the county’s sheriff’s office and emergency management and medical services departments. | Photo Credit: Dewberry

• Portage County, Wis., broke ground on a new jail and law enforcement center in Plover on Sept. 16, with the facility expected to open by fall 2028.
• The jail will have 196 beds, with an operating population of about 156 to accommodate inmate classification needs.
• Borrowing authorization of up to $160 million, approved in November 2025, supports a project focused on reducing out-of-county housing and improving program access.
• The project team includes designer Dewberry, construction manager at-risk J.H. Findorff & Sons, and owner’s representative Tegra.

PLOVER, Wis. — Officials in Portage County, Wis., held a groundbreaking Sept. 16 for a new jail and law enforcement center designed to address overcrowding, replace aging infrastructure and improve access to local rehabilitation programs. In addition to the jail, the complex will house the county’s Sheriff’s office divisions, emergency management and emergency medical services.

The groundbreaking marked a milestone following decades of studies and debate over the county’s correctional facility needs. A 1996 space study originally identified jail constraints at the county’s existing 79-bed facility, and the county began housing inmates elsewhere in 1997, the Point/Plover Metro Wire reported. In the years since, the project was stalled due to funding constraints and lack of public support. A November 2025 County Board vote finally authorized up to $160 million in borrowing for the project.

Although the design includes 196 beds, the county identifies an operating population of about 156 to preserve flexibility for separating inmates by classification. Its project page cites Wisconsin Department of Corrections guidance recommending operation at no more than 80% capacity.

County estimates include 99,700 square feet for jail functions, 29,200 square feet for sheriff’s operations and a 16,500-square-foot fleet garage. Plans also include communications and emergency management space, plus 3,000 square feet for a future housing pod.

Daylighting and staff visibility are key elements of the preliminary design. County materials describe high-level windows in selected spaces, two-way mirror glazing and sightlines intended to support supervision and safety. The layout also separates public, private and secure areas, while incorporating natural light to support occupant well-being and improve visibility.

Operationally, the county plans a hybrid supervision model combining elements of direct supervision with traditional approaches. The proposed design includes open observation areas, regular interaction between staff and incarcerated individuals, and flexible spaces to accommodate different classification needs, according to the county’s project page.

Portage County Sheriff Mike Lukas told the Point/Plover Metro Wire that the county typically houses 40 to 60 inmates elsewhere in Wisconsin. He said those placements cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually and prevent participation in locally available programs.

Lukas told WSAW that local housing would reduce transportation costs as well as boarding expenses. He also said the Plover location would allow officers to reach locations throughout the county in about 15 minutes or less, improving access compared with the county’s existing downtown Stevens Point site.

Dewberry is the project architect, J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. is the construction manager at-risk, and Tegra is the county’s owner’s representative.

WSAW reported a fall 2028 target for completing construction and beginning operations.

This article is based on reporting by Brandi Makuski, published by the Point/Plover Metro Wire on Sept. 16, 2026, and reporting by Ceara Hunsaker, published by WSAW on Sept. 16, 2026. Additional project information comes from Portage County’s official project page.